Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Review: Josh’s Ex-Girlfriend Wants Revenge (Season 3 Episode 1)
Valencia sits among the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend #squad and raises her voice, “That was my idea.” She is ignored. Valencia repeats herself, “That was my idea!” and then wonders, “Am I dead? How did I die?” With that, the premiere episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 3 wins me over.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 3 Episode 1, “Josh’s Ex-Girlfriend Wants Revenge,” begins as an exploration of how to fight back when your pride has been more devastated than a stomped on drugstore soft pretzel.
The incredibly re-watchable opening number is as much a love letter to colonial time musical theater as it is to the collective power of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend‘s supporting cast. With a series of inside jokes, it thrusts an oh-so catchy question — “Where’s a woman’s pride without her man?” — at us.
We travel with Rebecca Bunch’s fan club and see how Rebecca makeover-montages herself (again) to move forward from her emotional trauma.
It is all funny and rife with profound kernels (rather than love kernels). However, the episode’s most powerful moment is when we are pushed to realize we have all been ignoring Valencia.
Valencia absolutely kills it in the “ladies of the ’80s” rock ballad “Let’s Generalize About Men,” complete with an androgynous wardrobe and vocal styling. But she is not the focus of the message or the delivery.
It is not until Valencia reminds us that Josh ruined her life and could be sued that it clicks. Valencia is the ex-girlfriend too. Valencia is the ex-fiancée too. Valencia’s trust was shattered too. Valencia was the subject of Rebecca’s insidious schemes too. Valencia has had to adapt and reinvent her entire identity and career to recover from Josh too.
Valencia is a woman of color and is never provided the right to the identity that is literally in the title of the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, even though she is just as entitled to it as Rebecca Bunch.
This episode happens to air as #WOCAffirmation is trending over on Twitter.
Valencia, a Latina, is overpowered and silenced by two white women (Rebecca and then Paula) who claim what was rightfully hers: first her break-up pain, and then her idea. How is Crazy Ex-Girlfriend so incredibly timely?!
I could not relate more.
Other aspects of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 3 Episode 1 are just as epic and evocative.
Darryl can be ludicrous — and as the audience, we often feel superior to him, just like White Josh. We deride his enthusiasm and quick loyalty to things.
On this episode, White Josh gets eye-rollingly frustrated with how focused Darryl is on having a baby. Darryl turns everything into a birth metaphor and suits up in an anteater furry costume to help White Josh reach his career dreams, only to bring the conversation back to babies.
White Josh agrees it is time for therapy — the real kind, not ghost reiki. When in therapy, this incredible ship ends up healing itself.
Darryl stands up for himself and articulates confidently, “I’m a catch.” It is so vulnerable and true, White Josh’s heart bursts open. We grab a tissue.
White Josh glows as he realizes that this person is worthy of his affection, and Darryl has just shown him how to call someone out in love. This amazing ship is growing stronger, making us so thankful for the portrayal of how to authentically speak up for our own worth.
Also, they are cutest anteaters you’ll ever meet.
The inventiveness and creative force behind the song selection on this episode is a gift. It feeds us when it feels like everything else we watch is grossly derivative.
On Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 3 Episode 1, “Josh’s Ex-Girlfriend Wants Revenge,“ our cast of characters are so flawed that they are actually relatable.
And even though all gay men are wonderful, every single one, we are fastening our seat belts for a continued exploration of each character’s messiness.
What did you think of this episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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Crazy Ex-Girlfriend airs Fridays at 8/7c on the CW.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.